6.5 Technical analysis of the REDD+ annex to the BUR

The technical analysis of the REDD+ technical annex to the BUR is conducted as part of the UNFCCC International Consultation and Analysis (ICA) process(1) (Box 30).

Decision 14/CP.19 says that a technical annex to a BUR voluntarily submitted by a developing country in the context of REDD+ results-based payments is subject to the technical analysis of the ICA process as referred to in decision 2/CP.17, annex IV, paragraph 4 . By this decision, upon the request of the developing country Party seeking to obtain and receive payments for REDD+ results-based actions, two experts, one each from a developing and a developed country Party, in land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) from the UNFCCC roster of experts are to be included among the members selected for the Team of Technical Experts (TTE), which conducts a technical analysis of the BUR, for the technical REDD+ annex.

The material submitted in the REDD+ technical annex to the BUR, will be subject to technical analysis to analyse the extent to which:

there is consistency in methodologies, definitions, comprehensiveness and the information provided between the assessed reference level and the results of the implementation of REDD+ activities(2);

the data and information provided in the technical annex is transparent, consistent, complete (in the sense of allowing reconstruction) and accurate;

the data and information consistent with the guidelines for preparing the technical annex contained in the annex to decision 14/CP.19 ;

the results are accurate, to the extent possible.

As outlined in decision 9/CP.19 , completion of the technical analysis of the technical annex by the LULUCF experts of the TTE is one of the requirements for a developing country Party to obtain and receive results-based finance.

In accordance with decision 14/CP.19 , paragraph 14, the LULUCF experts, under their collective responsibility in conducting the technical analysis of the REDD+ technical annex, will develop a technical report separate to the BUR ICA report. This technical report will contain:

the technical annex submitted by the Party;

analysis of the technical annex by the LULUCF experts;

areas for technical improvement such as improvements to data and methodologies;

any comments or responses by the Party concerned, including areas for further improvement and capacity-building needs.

This report, containing all the elements listed above, will be published by the secretariat on the UNFCCC REDD web platform .

Technical analysis is a facilitative process. The LULUCF experts can seek clarifications on the technical annex and the developing country Party should provide clarifications to the extent possible, in accordance with national circumstances and taking into account national capabilities.

Whilst the scope of the technical analysis does not include the Party’s national REDD+ strategy and action plan(3), or the safeguards summary, these elements need to be provided in order to access results-based payments(4).

Box 30:UNFCCC international consultation and analysis (ICA) process

The modalities and guidelines for conducting ICA were adopted in Durban (annex IV to decision 2/CP.17 ) and outline the requirements of the ICA process of the BURs (and any annexes). These requirements state that the ICA process:

Is non-intrusive, non-punitive, and respectful of national sovereignty;

Aims to facilitate the universal participation of developing country Parties in the ICA process;

Aims to increase the transparencya of mitigation actions and their effects;

Is a consultative approach through a facilitative sharing of views between the team of technical experts and the Party;

Does not include discussion on the appropriateness of domestic policies and measures;

Will result in a summary report.

Notes: a. the purpose of transparency of action is to provide UNFCCC with c clear understanding of actions being taken by Parties including clarity and tracking of progress towards achieving Parties’ individual nationally determined contributions. See Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.

(1)

The COP, by decision 1/CP.16 , decided that developing countries would submit biennial update reports (BURs) (paragraph 60) and conduct international consultation and analysis (ICA) of the BURs (paragraph 63), through technical analysis by a team of technical experts (TTE) and facilitative sharing of views. The BUR reporting guidelines for Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (non-Annex I Parties) as well as the modalities and guidelines for ICA were adopted at the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17), by decision 2/CP.17 in annexes III and IV respectively.

(2)

Applied methods and approaches need to be methodologically sound and follow scientific principles.

(3)

In the context of results-based payments, countries need to provide a link to their national strategy and/or action plan on the UNFCCC REDD web platform , as appropriate

(4)

National strategies and action plans and the reporting on safeguards are excluded from the technical analysis, but the most recent summary information on how all REDD safeguards have been addressed and respected must be provided before Parties can receive REDD results-based payments, in accordance with decision 9/CP.19, paragraph 4 .